EP1898973B2 - Apparatus for testing a filter - Google Patents

Apparatus for testing a filter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1898973B2
EP1898973B2 EP05762877.8A EP05762877A EP1898973B2 EP 1898973 B2 EP1898973 B2 EP 1898973B2 EP 05762877 A EP05762877 A EP 05762877A EP 1898973 B2 EP1898973 B2 EP 1898973B2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
chamber
pressure
filter
pump
line
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EP05762877.8A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1898973A1 (en
EP1898973B1 (en
Inventor
Renato Pedrazzi
Mauro Suffritti
Anna Puppini
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Gambro Lundia AB
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Gambro Lundia AB
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Priority to PL05762877T priority Critical patent/PL1898973T5/pl
Publication of EP1898973A1 publication Critical patent/EP1898973A1/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M1/00—Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems
    • A61M1/14—Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators ; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
    • A61M1/16—Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators ; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis with membranes
    • A61M1/1621—Constructional aspects thereof
    • A61M1/165—Constructional aspects thereof with a dialyser bypass on the dialysis fluid line
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M1/00—Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems
    • A61M1/34—Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M1/00—Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems
    • A61M1/34—Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration
    • A61M1/3403—Regulation parameters
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M1/00—Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems
    • A61M1/34—Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration
    • A61M1/3413—Diafiltration
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01L—MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE
    • G01L13/00—Devices or apparatus for measuring differences of two or more fluid pressure values
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
    • G01N15/08—Investigating permeability, pore-volume, or surface area of porous materials
    • G01N15/082—Investigating permeability by forcing a fluid through a sample
    • G01N15/0826—Investigating permeability by forcing a fluid through a sample and measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. permeation rate or pressure change
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
    • A61M2205/33—Controlling, regulating or measuring
    • A61M2205/3331—Pressure; Flow
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
    • A61M2205/70—General characteristics of the apparatus with testing or calibration facilities
    • A61M2205/705—Testing of filters for leaks
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
    • G01N15/08—Investigating permeability, pore-volume, or surface area of porous materials
    • G01N2015/084—Testing filters

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an apparatus for testing filters.
  • the invention can be usefully applied for filters of an apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment, in particular for membrane filters normally used in a device for on-line preparation of a dialysis liquid and/or a replacement liquid, in the ambit of an apparatus for hemodialysis and/or hemo(dia)filtration, with the aim of removing germs contained in the liquid.
  • Membrane filters are used in the production of sterile liquids, by causing the liquid to pass through a semi-permeable membrane able to filter the germs. Also known are various processes for checking the characteristics of the membrane of a filter in order to guarantee its efficiency in treating the germs.
  • BPT bubble point test
  • the test briefly comprises the following stages: the membrane is wetted so that the pores are full of liquid; a first side of the membrane is connected to a gas source, while the opposite side is connected to a liquid for easy detection of gas bubbles; the first side of the membrane is gradually pressurised with the gas; while the gas pressure on the first side remains relatively low, a modest amount of gas will displace, by diffusion, through the liquid contained in the membrane pores towards the second side of the membrane; this amount of gas flow is proportional to the speed of increase of gas pressure on the first side; when the gas pressure reaches a certain level, the liquid contained in the largest pores is forced to exit from the pores themselves, and a considerable amount of gas crosses the largest pores, reaching the liquid connected to the second side of the membrane, forming gas bubbles within the liquid; in this situation a further pressuring action leads to a further displacement of gas towards the second side of the membrane, with no discernible increase in pressure; the substantially stable pressure reached in this situation (bubble point pressure, or BP pressure) is a known function of the maximum radius
  • Prior-art document US 4,614,109 describes a process for checking the permeability of a wet membrane of a filter, based both on a search for the BP pressure and on the determination of the gas diffusion before reaching BP pressure.
  • the filter membrane is first impregnated with liquid; thereafter, the inlet side of the membrane is gradually pressurised by introduction of a gas; the gas that passes by diffusion through the membrane is collected in a graduated container; the permeability of the membrane is calculated on the basis of the transmembrane pressure measured on the two sides o the membrane, and of the quantity of gas diffused through the membrane per unit of time using the graduated container.
  • US 4,614,109 further describes a process by which the transmembrane pressure can be determined by pressure measurements performed only on the inlet side of the membrane, i.e. on the side which, in the case of a sterile filter, is considered non-sterile, with the aim of not contaminating the sterile side of the membrane by performing these measurements. This is done by measuring a pressure gradient between the inlet side of the membrane and a specific reference pressure system which at the outset of each test is connected to the gas source generating the test pressure.
  • US 5,064,529 describes an automatic BPT (without the need to observe the moment of gas bubble formation) to check whether the effective BP pressure of the membrane corresponds to the desired BP pressure corresponding to the maximum diameter of the pores indicated by the membrane manufacturer; in a first stage the first side of the membrane is pressurised with the gas at a predetermined constant pressurisation speed, at the end of which first stage the pressure measured on the first side of the membrane should correspond to a predetermined theoretical pressure; the pressurisation speed and the pressurisation time are chosen so that the above-mentioned theoretical pressure is lower than the desired BP pressure; if the pressure measured after the predetermined time does not correspond to the theoretical pressure, a fault is signalled due, probably, to the breakage of the membrane or a faulty installation of the filter; in a second stage, the pressurisation is halted for a certain time period in which the pressure should remain substantially constant; if, on the contrary, there is a significant drop in pressure, a fault is signalled due, probably, to the faulty filling-up
  • US 5,594,161 describes a process for testing the integrity of one or more filtering elements in which the inlet side of the filter element is wetted and subjected to a gas pressure which is kept constant, while the pressure is measured on the outlet side which, previously, has been made part of a closed system. If, after a predetermined time, the outlet pressure does not exceed a predetermined threshold value, the filter element is considered intact.
  • US 6,228,271 describes a process for testing the integrity of filter membranes in which the filter inlet chamber is emptied of liquid and filled with air at atmospheric pressure, while the outlet chamber remains full of liquid. A depression is then created in the outlet chamber in order to create a transmembrane pressure; after the depression has been stabilised, for example at a value comprised between 0.2 and 0.9 bar (absolute pressure), and before completely evacuating the liquid from the outlet chamber, the constant flow of liquid is measured as it exits the outlet chamber, which corresponds to the air flow passing through the perforations of the membrane; the integrity of the membrane is thus measured on the basis of the value measured for the liquid flow.
  • a typical sealed pressure test involves, for example, a side of the membrane being brought up to a predetermined gas pressure, below BP pressure, comprised in the diffusion range, i.e. a range in which the pressure in the second membrane chamber increases proportionally to the pressure in the first side; when the pressure has been reached, the gas supply is interrupted and the pressure on the first side monitored; if the drop in pressure per time unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the membrane is understood to exhibit some defects.
  • US 4,702,829 describes a process, of the pressurised sealed type, for verifying the integrity of the filters of a hemodiafiltration apparatus, in which the substitution liquid is realised on-line by passing the dialyser liquid through two sterile filters arranged one after another, each of which exhibits two chambers separated by a water-wettable and semi-permeable membrane, which can hold the germs.
  • the verification process of the filter seal begins after the dialysis circuit washing stage, with the circuit full of the detergent liquid and the water-wettable filter membranes wet.
  • the filter seal verification process uses an ultrafiltration pump, predisposed in the dialysis circuit downstream of the blood treatment device and used in the dialysis treatment for obtaining a patient weight drop measurement.
  • the ultrafiltration pump is used to aspirate air internally of the first chamber of the second filter, through a microporous water-repelling filter arranged in a breather of the first chamber.
  • the aspirated air can also enter the second chamber of the first filter in the absence of occlusions in the circuit branch comprised between the two filters.
  • the liquid that leaves space for the aspirated air is removed by the ultrafiltration pump through the membranes of the two filters. Given that the water-wettable membranes of the filters are wet, the membranes themselves are substantially impermeable to air.
  • the ultrafiltration pump can generate a depression in chambers occupied by the liquid, i.e. the first chamber of the first filter and the second chamber of the second filter.
  • the ultrafiltration pump is then activated until a determined depression has been reached in a part of the dialysis circuit filled with liquid. Thereafter, the depression is monitored using a pressure gauge, for example by measuring the time necessary for the pressure to rise by a predetermined quantity, or by measuring the depression after a determined period of time. The monitoring of the depression enables an evaluation of the fluid seal of the system constituted by the membranes and the part of the circuit under depression.
  • US 4,834,888 describes a control process of the integrity of a sterile filter arranged in the supply system of a dialyser liquid to a dialyser, according to which the dialyser is removed and the flow in the dialyser liquid circuit interrupted, by stopping the circulation pump or alternatively closing two intercept valves, one arranged on the fresh dialyser liquid supply line and the other on the used dialyser liquid drainage line, closing an intercept valve arranged on a rinse line which unites an exit of the fist chamber of the sterile filter to the drainage line, opening a ventilation valve arranged in the rinse line between the outlet of the first chamber and the intercept valve, start up the ultrafiltration pump which during the dialysis treatment is used for calculating a patient's weight loss, and finally monitoring the pressure using a pressure gauge arranged on the drainage line.
  • the ultrafiltration pump causes the inlet of air through the ventilation valve and thus inside the first chamber of the sterile filter, while the liquid contained in the first chamber is forced to pass through the membrane and thus internally of the second chamber.
  • the wet membrane if intact, represents an air-impermeable barrier, so that the last action of the ultrafiltration pump causes a depression in the part of the circuit which is connected to the second chamber of the sterile filter; when the pressure gauge signals that a predetermined degree of depression has been reached, the ultrafiltration pump is stopped; if, after a predetermined period of time, the depression has not substantially change, the filter membrane is considered to be intact.
  • EP 491981 which concerns a plant for the production of a concentrate for hemodialysis by mixing water with a soluble powder
  • a test is used for verifying the integrity of a filter which is part of the plant.
  • the plant comprises a gas pump which can be used both for eliminating the gas which is freed during the production of the hemodialysis concentrate in a mixing tank, or for generating, in one of the two chambers of the filter, an overpressure which is monitored to evaluate the integrity of the filter membrane.
  • US 5,808,181 describes a process for verifying membrane filters arranged in the dialysis circuit of a device for extracorporeal blood treatment, in which the membrane of a filter to be checked is completely wetted with a liquid, a branch of the dialysis circuit containing one of the two filter chambers to be verified is separated from the rest of the circuit, a gas is injected into the separated branch to cause an overpressure, while the liquid contained in the chamber is removed by passing through the membrane; the gas supply is interrupted after a predetermined overpressure level has been reached in chamber; thereafter, the overpressure is controlled, for example by comparing the pressure drop per time unit with a limit value which is characteristic of an intact filter membrane.
  • This document also discloses an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • EP 407737 describes a process for testing the membrane of a dialyser filter in two stages: in a first stage the blood chamber of the dialyser is subjected to a pressure gradient from the blood chamber to the dialyser fluid chamber; in a second stage the membrane is subjected to an opposite gradient. The test enables a determination of the presence of leaks which might appear or be noted only by effect of one or other of the two pressure gradients.
  • the invention is defined by an apparatus according to claim 1. Embodiments of the invention are defined in dependent claims 2 to 5.
  • a principal aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the testing of filters which is reliable and precise without the use of high pressures in the hydraulic circuit connected to the filter or filters.
  • the aim is achieved by generating a transmembrane pressure of the filter to be tested by creating an overpressure on one side of the membrane and a depression on the opposite side thereof.
  • a further aim of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is simple and economical for actuating the above-described process.
  • An advantage of the invention is that it is applicable simply and economically for testing filters of apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment, such as hemodialysis and hemo(dia)filtration apparatus.
  • a further advantage is that it also makes available a very precise and sensitive verification process for filters which are not suitable (because of breakages, leaks, excessive permeability or pore size, etc.) for relatively minor reasons.
  • This advantage is attained by virtue of a test based on the reading of gas quantities and/or liquid in inlet and/or in outlet to or from the filter chambers.
  • a still further advantage is that the apparatus of the invention provides a process for checking which can be effected relatively rapidly. This is made possible firstly by the fact that the transmembrane pressure is generated using two actuators operating on the two opposite sides of the membrane, and secondly because the evacuation of the liquid from a filter chamber, which is necessary to cause the test gas to enter, is done by a tangential liquid flow which does not cross the membrane.
  • a further advantage is that the invention recognises whether the detection of a faulty situation is due to the unsuitablility of the membrane or whether it is due instead to leakages in other parts of the hydraulic circuit connected to the filter. This advantage is obtained by means of the independent monitoring of both sides of the membrane.
  • the invention advantageously enables detection of which, if one only, of the two filters is at fault, and indeed if only one of them is faulty.
  • 1 denotes in its entirety an apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment (hemodiafiltration)
  • 2 denotes a fresh dialyser fluid
  • 3 a fresh dialyser fluid circulation pump
  • 4 a first filter having a semipermeable membrane 5 which separates a first chamber 6 from a second chamber 7, 8
  • a blood treatment device having a semipermeable membrane 9 which separates a dialysis chamber 10 from a blood chamber 11, 12 a replacement fluid circulation pump
  • 13 a second filter having a semipermeable membrane 14 which separates a first chamber 15 from a second chamber 16, 17 a used dialyser fluid drainage pump, 18 a used dialyser fluid discharge, 19 a gas pump connected to the atmosphere by a water-repelling air filter 20.
  • the pump 3 is arranged on a first tract of a supply line of the fresh dialysis fluid which connected the source to an inlet 6a of the first chamber 6 of the first filter 4.
  • a second tract of the supply line connects an outlet 7a of the second chamber 7 of the first filter 4 with an inlet 10a of the device 8 dialysis chamber.
  • the pump 17 is arranged on a drainage line for the used dialysis fluid which connects an outlet 10b of the dialysis chamber 10 with the discharge 18.
  • the pump 19 is of a type which occludes the conduit it is operatively associated with when not working.
  • An extracorporeal blood circuit comprises an arterial line LA which takes the patient's blood to an inlet 11a of the blood chamber 11 of the device 8, and a venous line LV which returns the blood from an outlet 11b of the blood chamber 11 to the patient.
  • the infusion pump 12 is arranged on a first tract of an infusion line which branches from the second tract of the dialysis fluid supply line up to an inlet 15a of the first chamber 15 of the second filter 13.
  • the pump 12 is occlusive and reversible and able to move the fluid in both circulation directions.
  • a second tract of the infusion line connects an outlet 16a of the second chamber 16 to the extracorporeal blood circuit (for example with the venous line LV, as shown in figure 1 , and/or the arterial line LA).
  • a first bypass line 21 connects the fresh dialysis fluid supply line, at a point downstream of the pump 3, to the used dialyser liquid drainage line, at a point upstream of the pump 17.
  • a shunt valve V1 selectively directs the fluid coming from the pump 3 either towards the first filter 4 or to the first bypass line 21.
  • a first device for example a flow meter
  • a second device for measuring the fluid flow rate is arranged on the used dialyser fluid drainage line downstream of the bypass line 21.
  • the flow rate measuring devices enable gathering of information relating to the quantity of fluid exchanged between the extracorporeal blood and the dialysis apparatus during treatment, with the aim of controlling the patient's fluid balance, as well-known and used in dialytic treatments.
  • a second bypass line 22 connects the fresh dialyser fluid supply line, at a point downstream of the first bypass line 21, with the used dialyser fluid drainage line, at a point upstream of the first bypass line 21.
  • An intercept valve V2 selectively closes or opens the second bypass line 22.
  • the second bypass line 22 enables a rapid evacuation of liquid from the first chamber 6 of the first filter 4 in the filter checking process, as will be better explained hereinafter.
  • a third bypass line 23 connects an outlet 6b of the first chamber of the first filter 4 with the drainage line at a point upstream of the first bypass line 21.
  • a fourth bypass line 24 connects an outlet 15b of the first chamber 15 of the second filter 13 with the drainage line at a point upstream of the first bypass line 21.
  • the third bypass line 23 and the fourth bypass line 24 have a tract in common.
  • An intercept valve V3 selectively opens or closes the fourth bypass line 24.
  • a gas supply line 25 connects the gas pump 19 with the tract of bypass line in common between the bypass lines 23 and 24.
  • a three-way valve V4 places a first way, connected to the outlets 6b and 15b of the first chambers 6 and 15 of the two filters 4 and 13, in selective communication with a second way connected to the gas pump 19, or with a third way connected to the used dialyser fluid drainage line.
  • a fifth bypass line 26 connects the second tract of the fresh dialyser fluid supply line, at a point downstream of the branch point of the infusion line, with the used dialyser fluid drainage line 21.
  • a shunt valve V5 selectively directs the fluid coming from the branch point either towards the dialysis chamber 10 or to the fifth bypass line 26.
  • An intercept valve V6 selectively closes or opens the fifth bypass line 26.
  • An intercept valve V7 is arranged on the second tract of the fresh dialyser fluid supply line, upstream of the branch point of the infusion line.
  • a connection line 27 connects the second tract of the infusion line with the second tract of the fresh dialysis fluid supply line, at a point comprised between the branching of the first tract of the infusion line and the fifth bypass line 26.
  • An intercept valve V8 selectively opens or closes the second tract of the infusion line.
  • a shunt valve V9 connects a first way, connected to the outlet 16a of the second chamber 16 of the second filter 13, selectively to a second way, connected to the extracorporeal circuit, or to a third way, connected to the connection line 27.
  • a first pressure gauge P1 measures the pressure in a tract of circuit which is connected to the outlet 6b and/or to the outlet 15b of the first chambers of the two filters 4 and 13.
  • a second pressure gauge P2 measures the pressure in a tract of circuit connected to the outlet 7a and/or to the outlet 16a of the second chambers of the two filters 4 and 13.
  • Figure 1 shows, in bold lines, the circuit lines which, during treatment, are normally crossed by the fresh or used dialysis fluid, or by the infusion liquid.
  • a first verification process of the integrity of the first filter 4 and the second filter 13 is now described, starting from a situation in which the apparatus is full of liquid (for example following the apparatus priming stage and before connection to the patient).
  • the pumps 3 and 17 are active; the valve V1 directs the fluid to the first bypass line 21; the gas pump 19 operates directly, taking in air from the outside ambient; the valve V4 opens the way which is connected to the pump 19, closing the way which is connected to the drainage line; the valve V2 is opened so as to enable the air moved by the pump 19 to fill the first chamber 6 of the first filter 4, taking the place of the liquid which, driven by the pump 17, can displace, passing through the second bypass line 22; the second valve V7 is closed so that the second chamber 7 of the first filter 4 remains full of liquid; the infusion pump 12 operates inversely (with respect to the direction it takes during a treatment) while valves V3 and V6 are opened and valve V5 is opened towards the bypass line 26 and is closed towards the device 8, so that the air driven by the pump 19 can fill the first chamber 15 of the second filter 13, taking the place of the liquid removed the pump 12 and the pump 17; the valve V8 is closed and the
  • Figure 2 illustrates, in bold line, the circuit lines crossed by the fluid during the first air-filling stage.
  • valve V2 In a second pressurising stage of the first chambers 6 and 15, (see figure 3 ), the valve V2 is closed and the infusion pump 12 (which can occlude the line) is stopped, so that the communication between the first chambers 6 and 15 and the pump 17 and the discharge 18 is closed, while the valve V3 stays open and valve V4 stays in the position which opens communication of the chambers 6 and 15 with the pump 19; the valves V7 and V8 are opened, and valve V9 opens communication with the connection line 27, in such a way that the second chambers 7 and 16 of the two filters 4 and 13 are connected to the pump 17.
  • the gas pump 19 supplies air to the chambers 6 and 15, generating an overpressure in the chambers, while the action of the drainage pump 17 causes a depression in the chambers 7 and 16, which are full of liquid.
  • a broken line illustrates the part of the hydraulic circuit which is in depression.
  • the pump 3 continues to circulate dialyser liquid, which is deviated by the valve V1 to the bypass line 21 in order then to be sent on to the discharge 18.
  • the second stage terminates when the overpressure and the depression have reached a predetermined test value; basically the pump 19 stops when the pressure P 1 measured by the pressure gauge P1 is P 1 > P max , where P max is a predetermined value; valve V6 closes, isolating chambers 7 and 16 from the pump 17, when the pressure P 2 measured by the pressure gauge P2 is P 2 ⁇ P min , where P min is a predetermined value; in this situation (see figure 4 ) the first chambers 6 and 15 are part of a closed system in overpressure, while the second chambers 7 and 16 are part of a closed system in depression.
  • a third verification stage of the integrity of the membranes 5 and 14 includes monitoring the pressures in the pressure gauges P1 and P2, which can be performed according to various criteria, with the system in the situation illustrated in figure 4 .
  • a first criterion is that after a predetermined period of time ⁇ T, the pressure is measured by pressure gauge P1; if the pressure has dropped by a quantity ⁇ P 1 ⁇ ⁇ P 1max , where ⁇ P 1max is a predetermined threshold value, it is considered that the membranes 5 and 14 are intact; if, on the other hand, after time ⁇ T, the situation is ⁇ P 1 > ⁇ P 1max , it is considered that at least one of the two membranes 5 and 14 is not intact, or that the closed system in overpressure which includes the chambers 6 and 15 has leaks. Alternatively it is possible to check the time the pressure P1 takes to drop beyond a predetermined limit, or to check the speed of drop of pressure P1.
  • both ⁇ P 1 > ⁇ P 1max and ⁇ P 2 > ⁇ P 2max result, it is considered that one of the two membranes 5 and 14 is not intact, while if on the other hand only one of the measured pressure variations ⁇ P 1 and ⁇ P 2 is greater than the respective threshold value, it is considered that the membranes 5 and 14 are intact and that there is a leak in the circuit. It is possible to verify the time the pressure P1 takes to fall below a predetermined limit, and to verify the time pressure P2 takes to rise beyond a predetermined limit, and it can be decided that the membranes 5 and 14 are intact if both times exceed a predetermined minimum time. It is also possible to verify whether the speeds of change of the pressures P1 and P2 both exceed a predetermined threshold speed.
  • the third stage of the verification process can include a first sub-stage, in which verification is made of whether the change in pressure over the time unit exceeds a predetermined threshold, which would mean that one or the other of the membranes 5 and 14 was not intact, and a subsequent second sub-stage in which, if in the first sub-stage an excessive pressure change was detected, i.e.
  • a valve arranged between the two chambers subjected to monitoring (for example valve V3 if the monitored chambers are chambers 6 and 15, or valve V8 if chambers 7 and 16 are monitored, or both) is closed, so that one of the two chambers is isolated from the other and the pressure gauge at work (P1 or P2 or both) is connected only to one chamber; if the excessive change in pressure continues, i.e. if the pressure gauge detects, for a second time, a pressure change which is beyond the threshold value, it is concluded that the non-intact filter is the one connected to the pressure gauge; on the other hand, if the change in pressure stops or slows down, it is concluded that the non-intact filter is the other one.
  • each pressure gauge is connected to a different filter 4 or 13, for example by closing valves V3 and V7, so that pressure gauge P1 is connected to the first filter 4 and pressure gauge P2 is connected to the second filter 13.
  • the verification process comprises a first stage of filling the first chambers 6 and 15 with air, as described herein before with reference to figure 2 , and a second stage of pressurisation of the first chambers 6 and 15, at the end of which, when the overpressure and the depression have reached a respective predetermined test value, the pump 19 is stopped, as in the previous case, when the pressure P 1 measured by the pressure gauge P1 is P 1 > P max , while the valves V7 and V8 stay open, keeping open the communication between the chambers 7 and 16 and the pump 17; in this situation the first chambers 6 and 15 are part of a closed system in overpressure, while the second chambers 7 and 16 are part of a non-closed system kept in depression by the pump 17 which continues to work. It is possible to use the pressure gauge P2 to control the value of the depression and keep it at a predetermined value.
  • the pump 17 is controlled in order to maintain the predetermined depression value inside the chambers 7 and 16.
  • the depression maintained in the chambers 7 and 16 enables an increase to be made in the transmembrane pressure gradient, without increasing the gas overpressure in the chambers 6 and 15, thus without any further strain on the hydraulic circuit.
  • the verification process of the second preferred embodiment is also applicable to a single filter.
  • a first variant can be included, in which during the third monitoring stage the liquid flow is measured as it exits the chambers 7 and 16 of the filters, for example using the difference of the flow rate values measured by the flow meters that the HDF apparatus uses during the treatment for the patient's fluid balance.
  • the liquid flow rate corresponds to the air flow rate passing through the membrane, entering the chambers 7 and 16, which is indicative of the state of the membranes 5 and 14.
  • the depression P 2 in the chambers 7 and 16 is maintained constant at a predetermined value, for example comprised between 0.2 and 0.9 bar (absolute pressure). If the liquid flow rate measured exceeds a predetermined threshold value, it is considered that at least one of the two membranes 5 and 14 is not intact, and exhibits breakage, leakage, or has too-large pores or excessive permeability.
  • a second variant can be included in which, in addition to the first variant, not only the depression P 2 but also the overpressure P 1 in the first chambers 6 and 15 is kept at a constant predetermined value, for example comprised between 1.2 and 3.0 bar (absolute pressure), by activating the pump 19 which supplies the air that passes through the membranes 5 and 14.
  • the air flow supplied by the pump 19 (which can be calculated for example from the pump speed, being a positive displacement pump) corresponds to the flow rate measured for the liquid exiting from the chambers 7 and 16.
  • the air flow rate is also indicative of the state of the membrane.
  • the first chambers 6 and 15 are maintained at a constant overpressure by the pump 19, while the second chambers 7 and 16 are kept at a constant depression by the pump 17; the state of the membrane is evaluated by the air flow rate passing through the membranes 5 and 14 from the first chambers to the second chambers, the flow rate being calculable either by measuring the liquid flow rate exiting the second chambers 7 and 16, or by measuring the air flow rate supplied to the first chambers 6 and 15, or by both of the above-mentioned measurements.
  • the process for verifying the filters 4 and 13 includes filling the chambers 6 and 15 with air, generating a depression in the liquid-filled chambers 7 and 16, forming a closed system which includes the chambers 7 and 16, and monitoring the depression in the chambers 7 and 16.
  • the filters are considered to be intact for example if, after a predetermined time ⁇ T, the pressure measured by the pressure gauge P2 has risen by an amount ⁇ P 2 ⁇ ⁇ P 2max , where ⁇ P 2max is a predetermined threshold value.
  • the testing processes described above can also be applied to a dialysis filter.
  • Figures from 5 to 8 relate to testing processes applied to a single filter of an apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment.
  • Figure 5 shows an apparatus for dialysis in which the elements that are similar to the apparatus of figure 1 have been indicated for reasons of simplicity using the same enumeration.
  • a first testing process of the filter 4 starting from a situation in which the membrane 5 is wet and the chambers 6 and 7 are both full of liquid, comprises a first emptying stage of liquid from the first chamber 6 and a filling thereof with air coming from the pump 19.
  • the situation is as follows: the pump 17 removes the liquid from the first chamber 6 and sends it towards the discharge 18 with the valve V2 open.
  • the air coming from the outside environment through the hydrophobic filter 20 is supplied by the pump 19 to the first chamber 6 with the valve V4 open towards the pump 19 and closed towards the drainage line, the valve V5 opens toward the bypass 26 and closes towards the port 10a of the dialyser; the valve V6 closes the bypass 26 so that the second chamber 7 does not communicate with the operating pump 17 and remains full of liquid.
  • the first chamber 6 is full of air and the second chamber 7 is still full of liquid.
  • a second stage ( figure 7 ) the first chamber 6 is placed in overpressure and the second chamber 7 in depression: the valve V2 is closed and the pump 19 continues to supply air to the first chamber 6; the valve V6 is open so that the pump 17 communicates with the second chamber 7; the pressure gauges P1 and P2 send the relative pressure signals to a control unit of the apparatus which, as in an example already described herein before, controls the pump 19 so as to maintain a constant overpressure in the first chamber 6 (for example at a value comprised between 1.2 and 3.0 bar in absolute pressure), and the pump 17 so as to maintain a constant depression in the second chamber 7 (for example at a value comprised between 0.2 and 0.9 bar of absolute pressure); the state of the membrane 5 is calculated on the basis of the air flow rate which, in this situation of constant pressures, enters the first chamber 6 and/or the liquid flow rate exiting the second chamber 7.
  • these flow rates can be calculated from the speed of the positive displacement pump 19 and the flow rate data provided by the device the apparatus is provided with for maintaining the fluid balance of the patient during the dialysis treatment.
  • the fluid balancing device can comprise two flow meters (not illustrated) arranged with one on the fresh dialysis fluid supply line and the other on the used fluid drainage line, so that the liquid flow rate exiting the second chamber 7 can be determined by the difference of the flow rates measured by the two flow meters.
  • other fluid balance devices of known type for a dialysis apparatus, can be used in order to calculate the liquid flow rate exiting from the chamber 7.
  • both flow rates exceed a threshold value, it is considered that the membrane 5 is not suitable (for example because it exhibits breakages, leaks, too-large pores and so on). If the two flow rates differ from each other by a predetermined threshold value, it is considered that the membrane is suitable and that there is a leak in the part of the hydraulic circuit on the side where the greater flow rate is measured.
  • a first system (indicated by a long broken lines in figure 8 ) which includes the first chamber 6 and the first pressure gauge P1, is defined between the closed valve V2 and the pump 19 when the latter is still;
  • a second system (indicated with short broken lines in figure 8 ), which includes the second chamber 7 and the second pressure gauge P2, is defined by the closure of the valve V6.
  • a further testing process is also possible, in which a first closed system is formed in air overpressure which includes the first chamber 6, while the second chamber 7 is maintained at a constant depression by the pump 17, keeping the valve V6 open.
  • the monitoring stage includes reading the liquid flow exiting the second chamber 7 (as already described herein-above), as well as the drop in pressure at the pressure gauge P1. In the case that both the liquid flow rate and the pressure drop exceed respective threshold values, the membrane is considered to be unsuitable.
  • a further process consists in maintaining a constant air overpressure in the first chamber 6 by means of the pump 19, while the second chamber 7 is part of a closed system in depression with the valve V6 closed.
  • the monitoring stage includes a monitoring of the increase in pressure at the pressure gauge P2 and reading the air flow entering the first chamber 6 and thus the second chamber 7 due to the compliance of the closed system the chamber 7 is part of. If both the air flow and the pressure increase exceed respective threshold values, the membrane is considered to be unsuitable.
  • the verification processes described above in relation to the dialysis apparatus of figure 5 are also applicable to a hemodiafiltration apparatus comprising, for example, an infusion pump arranged on an infusion line which branches from the dialysis fluid supply line and which incorporates a filter for the infusion fluid, similarly to the apparatus of figure 1 .

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Anesthesiology (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Urology & Nephrology (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Emergency Medicine (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • External Artificial Organs (AREA)
  • Filtering Of Dispersed Particles In Gases (AREA)
  • Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
  • Networks Using Active Elements (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
EP05762877.8A 2005-07-01 2005-07-01 Apparatus for testing a filter Active EP1898973B2 (en)

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PL05762877T PL1898973T5 (pl) 2005-07-01 2005-07-01 Aparat do testowania filtra

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PCT/IB2005/001887 WO2007003980A1 (en) 2005-07-01 2005-07-01 An apparatus and process for testing filters

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KR102342446B1 (ko) * 2018-10-18 2021-12-22 주식회사 엘지화학 분리막 엘리먼트의 결함 검출 방법 및 분리막 엘리먼트 결함 검출 장치
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WO2007003980A1 (en) 2007-01-11
US20090151470A1 (en) 2009-06-18
PL1898973T3 (pl) 2010-10-29
PL1898973T5 (pl) 2020-02-28
ES2346669T3 (es) 2010-10-19
EP1898973A1 (en) 2008-03-19
US8881600B2 (en) 2014-11-11
CN101232910B (zh) 2011-12-14
CN101232910A (zh) 2008-07-30
JP2009500058A (ja) 2009-01-08
ES2346669T5 (es) 2020-03-18
KR101098125B1 (ko) 2011-12-26
ATE468870T1 (de) 2010-06-15
DE602005021552D1 (de) 2010-07-08
EP1898973B1 (en) 2010-05-26
KR20080027357A (ko) 2008-03-26
US20150033829A1 (en) 2015-02-05
JP4566262B2 (ja) 2010-10-20
US9366615B2 (en) 2016-06-14

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